The associations and effects of mindfulness on anger and aggression: A meta-analytic review.
Siobhan M O'Dean, Elizabeth Summerell, Eddie Harmon-Jones, J David Creswell, Thomas F. Denson
Clinical Psychology Review June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102584 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Aggression Anger Meta-analysis |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions reduced anger and aggression with medium effect sizes (d = -0.48 and -0.61, respectively) compared to control groups. |
Abstract
Dispositional mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions have been linked to emotion regulation and may reduce anger and aggression. The present set of four meta-analyses examined and quantified correlational relationships between trait mindfulness, trait anger, and trait aggression, as well as the effects of experimental mindfulness-based interventions on anger and aggression. These meta-analyses contained data from 118 correlational (dispositional mindfulness) and experimental (mindfulness-based intervention) studies. For the subset of self-report correlational studies (kanger = 243, kaggression = 286), we found small-to-medium inverse relationships between dispositional mindfulness and both anger (r = -0.23, p < .001) and aggression (r = -0.19, p < .001). For experimental studies (kanger = 95, kaggression = 38), we found medium effects. Specifically, mindfulness-based interventions produced lower anger (d = -0.48, p < .001) and aggression (d = -0.61, p < .001) relative to the control groups. In sum, results suggest that mindfulness can curb angry and aggressive responses. Effect sizes for the interventions were largest in Asia. Studies with passive versus active control groups showed larger effect sizes. Effect sizes were largely equivalent for all populations studied (e.g., clinical, forensic, healthy adults, medical, students). Our meta-analytic findings suggest that mindfulness training may aid the effective regulation of anger and aggression for diverse populations. They also highlight the need for more rigorous control groups in future research.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Refining the Observed Mindfulness Measure to Create and Validate the Observed Mindful Behaviours Scale Mindfulness February 24, 2026
- Effects of an eight-week mindfulness-informed psychoeducational intervention delivered during physical education lessons on self-reported aggression and impulsivity in adolescents Frontiers in Psychology October 12, 2026
- Mindfulness on the Palm of Your Hand: A Systematic Review of Mobile Mindfulness Apps and Their Effects on Well-Being, Compassion, and Aggression in Non-Clinical Adults. Healthcare May 29, 2026
Cites 41
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
and 36 more in the library